Cane Farmers Weigh Costly Compromise with T&L

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is staring down one of the toughest decisions in its history, whether to end its multimillion‑dollar fight with Belize Sugar Industries and T&L Sugars in exchange for a deal critics say offers far too little. For years, the BSCFA has argued that farmers are owed close to five million dollars in unpaid Fairtrade premiums from the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, plus additional payments for the next two crops. But a proposed settlement, set for March 2026, would wipe all of that off the table. Every claim.

Every cent. And in return? The association would get just a single one‑year Letter of Enhancement for 2026–27, a document that outlines how premiums could be calculated, but gives T&L full control over which sugar even qualifies. After that, the companies would have no obligation to issue future letters at all. A legal opinion commissioned by the BSCFA calls the proposal a bad bargain, warning the association stands to lose more than eight million dollars in Fairtrade premiums with nothing guaranteed in exchange. Attorney Magali Marin Young puts it bluntly; farmers would be left exposed. If another dispute pops up, T&L and BSI could simply refuse to renew the letter, shutting the association out of the Fairtrade system and forcing it to “fall in line.” The risks don’t end there. Any disputes under the settlement would be handled in London, under English law, a costly, uphill legal battle far from home. And with the Government of Belize not included in the agreement, the association would be waiving its rights without any backstop if things go wrong. On paper, the settlement paints a warmer picture. It promises better collaboration, more data sharing, and long‑term planning for the industry. It pitches the agreement as a fresh start toward a more unified, sustainable sugar sector. But when you compare that optimistic language with the hard legal realities, the BSCFA finds itself at a crossroads: accept one year of guaranteed premiums and close the door on years of litigation or keep fighting in court for millions in past payments and a binding decision on fair treatment under Fairtrade. For now, the association hasn’t chosen its path. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the farmers who depend on the outcome.

 

OW Chairman Opposes Proposal to Sugarcane Farmer Association

 

Meanwhile, a high‑stakes vote is looming for cane farmers in the north. This Sunday, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association meets in San Roman to decide whether to accept the agreement now on the table, but the membership is far from united. Some farmers say they’re ready to move forward, while others insist the deal doesn’t protect their interests. Leading that resistance is Orange Walk branch chairman Alfredo Ortega, who says he and his supporters will vote no, arguing the proposal lacks fairness, transparency, and real long‑term security for cane growers.

 

Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, BSCFA, O.W.

“I would want to put my position as the Orange Walk Branch Chairman. Really and truly as the Orange Walk Branch Chairman, I am not in agreement with what has been presented to us and for how the meeting will be taking place for this Sunday. It is true the farmers have the voice to accept or don’t accept what is being brought to the table. But as a leader, as a chairman of the Orange Walk Branch, I am not, I am not in agreement to that because it brings no good benefit to our farmers based on the sacrifice that we have done for many years. What they have brought forward is that they’ll give us a million dollars and they want us to sign that we were forgoing the issue in court. That means that if we forgo issue in court, then we’ll be losing everything that we have been looking for. I think that that is not beneficial to the farmers so I, I personally see that that is no benefit to us. The agreement is one-sided. It’s not something that is being negotiated on behalf of the farmers because for these past years that we have not been getting Fair Trade Premium as an association, as an organization, we have been investing because we have to maintain the certification alive.”

 

Shane Williams

“ What is your message to the farmers heading into Sunday?”

 

Alfredo Ortega

“Well, my message to the farmers is that they look very carefully. They read and understand very carefully what is being placed on the table for, for them to make a decision. Because this decision will really mark a situation on which we either promote with something that will give benefit to the farmers, or we sign the cover of our coffin.”

 

Ortega says Sunday’s vote will either protect farmers’ livelihoods or put the industry at real risk.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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